A Brazilian woman shares her story of meeting a Legionary priest among the crowd in Rome

Fr. Brian Coe LC (top left) and other Legionaries in Rome.

The following is a testimony from Louise Colchete from Brazil.
She met one of our Legionary priests, Fr. Brian Coe
LC, at the recent canonization events in Rome, and she
wanted to share her experience. (English in not her first
language, so her grammar has been slightly edited for clarity.)

I
had the opportunity to go to the canonization of John
Paul II and John XXIII and it was all very
good. But some problems and tensions during the pilgrimage caused
me to lose patience and mutter a little bit…and I
asked myself if I needed to confess.

My group and I
were waiting for the opening of the gates of St.
Peter´s Square. There were many people in the place where
we were. I had never seen such a crowd, but
a priest who was beside me caught my attention, I
don´t know why.

People who needed to get to another location
decided to always pass by on our side and it
caused us some stress. There was no space, and sometimes
I collided with this priest, but he always said calmly
that everything was fine. When impatience came, I looked at
this priest sitting on edge of the pavement with a
very peaceful expression and then I tried to calm myself.

Time
passed, and after much despair, my group and I entered
the St. Peter´s Square. When I looked around, I saw
the same priest almost on our side again. A girl
in my group wanted to confess her sins and asked

Louise Colchete

the priest if he would hear her confession.

He promptly
got up and agreed. I knew I was not totally
in the state of grace, but I was a little
embarrassed to ask for him to hear my confession because
I didn´t wanted to disturb his moment of faith and
besides, I don´t speak very good English.

But I took
courage and went to him. He agreed to hear my
confession and was patient when I did not know some
words in English. Also, he asked me to repeat an
act of contrition that was lovely, the most beautiful I´ve
ever heard!

I saw that many other people confessed their
sins to him. And that scene was one of the
nicest that I could see! When they saw that he
was hearing confessions, people became interested in having their sins
forgiven (even not knowing the language the priest spoke). As
soon as he became available, another person would come to
him. Making a silly comparison, it was as if he
was offering a small water fountain in the middle of
the scorching desert. Everyone needed this pure water to refresh
their souls! This priest was a sign of salvation for
many people and was also a source of grace!

With that
brief moment, I could see how much people need the
presence of the priest, and that the donation of lives
to the priesthood is very necessary. One point in particular
also caught my attention -- the importance of celibacy, which
allows the total surrender of the shepherd to his flock.

After a little time, I found out the name of
the priest and discovered, over the Internet, that he is
in the Legionaries of Christ. His name is Father Brian
Gregory Coe. If it´s possible, I ask charitably to send
my thanks and fraternal hugs to him. These moments I
had in the presence of this man of God will
be eternal!

May Mary, our Mother, bless all those who
daily donate their lives to this service, the priesthood! And
may Our Lady increase every day in us the desire